15085: Fairbridge Central Bushland Protection stage 1

This project is of extreme importance as the area
identified within the Fairbridge Village Central Bushland contains
2 Threatened Ecological Communities and 2 Declared Rare Flora (DRF)
species of Synaphea. One of these species is only found in two locations on the
Swan coastal plain of Western Australia - one of which is located
within this Fairbridge Central bushland. The site is currently being monitored by Department of Parks
and Wildlife (DPAW) Endangered Species department who do an annual
count of the threatened flora and report on the overall condition
of the bushland and then recommend specific actions to be
undertaken to protect the species.

Fairbridge is a not for profit organisation and a registered
training organisation that runs many programs for young people such
as FAIR (disability program) COOL (youth at risk programs).
Training and apprenticeships for building construction, painting,
environment, conservation and land management horticulture and
nurseryman skills. As part of the current business plan to support
these training and program areas the village has a social
enterprise arm that is required to generate revenue. This is done
by leasing out cottages and venues located throughout the village
for holiday, school groups, corporate organisations, festivals and
community events. The increasing numbers of people movement
throughout the village has seen the creation of new walking tracks
through all the village especially the sensitive central bushland
area and subsequently deterioration is
increasing. Fairbridge has tried to protect this area by implementing
road and track closures but then walkers develop a new track.
Fairbridge does not have the resources to protect the area with
fencing. Noxious environmental weeds like Watsonia and acacias are
also degrading the bushland and threatening the
DRF. A current program of control is being undertaken but is
insufficient to decrease the impact of these weeds on the
bushland.Without funding to enable fencing to be installed as stage 1
this bushland will continue to degrade and the DRF will be
lost.

The project will firstly:1. Protect the defined Bushland area to eliminate all people
traffic2. Provide a complete weed control program3. Revegetate the closed roads and tracksAnd then Secondly:1. Assist the bushland to naturally
regenerate 2. Enhance the natural village
environment 3. Educate Fairbridge Staff to protect and appreciate the
valuable resource that they have 4. Educate the general public in endangered species and the
value of retaining and enhancing the natural
environment.5. Provide students with a live resource to learn how to
manage bushland remnants and this project will also form part of
the learning curriculum at Fairbridge.